Abstract:Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial ocular surface disorder characterized by the loss of tear film homeostasis. Dry eye associated with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) accounts for up to 86% of all DED cases, and traditional drugs fail to effectively target this core pathological mechanism. As a new type of anhydrous and preservative-free eye drops approved by the FDA, perfluorohexyloctane has a unique amphiphilic structure, which can form an artificial lipid monolayer at the air-liquid interface of the tear film. It exerts its therapeutic effects by inhibiting tear evaporation, stabilizing the tear film, unclogging meibomian gland orifices, and promoting corneal oxygen supply. This drug can not only serve as a first-line treatment option for evaporative dry eye but also be combined with other drugs for personalized treatment of complex cases. In this review, we summarized the mechanism of action, pharmacological properties, clinical efficacy, and safety of perfluorohexyloctane eye drops, and further elaborate on its application value in complex types of dry eye and patients with other concurrent ocular surface diseases, aiming to provide more evidence support for the precise treatment of DED.
